Dublin City University is drawing up plans for a major expansion of the college campus which will mirror the Gateway scheme planned for University College Dublin on the southside.
Dublin City councillors were told by city manager John Tierney recently that the college is planning to develop office, hotel, retail and leisure space on part of its lands in Glasnevin as well as educational buildings.
The manager said these uses were allowed under its current Z12 zoning meaning the proposed developments fitted in with uses that are "normally permissible or open for consideration" on such sites and therefore the university would not need a variation of the city development plan to proceed with the scheme.
However, it would need to apply for planning permission and at that stage "the design, layout, height and massing would be assessed".
In 2000 DCU bought a 10 acre site on Griffith Avenue for €39.4m which had been owned by the Eustace family for nearly 150 years. Charlie Kenny's Clancourt Group had originally won the tender for the site but it flipped the site on to DCU at about cost price.
The Kenny family have strong links with DCU and Conor Kenny, who is the group's joint chief executive, is on DCU's Educational Trust board. Charlie Kenny had previously been a board member.
Clancourt's assets include Hibernian's headquarters on Hatch Street and Crescent shopping centre in Limerick.
DCU's main campus stretches from Collins Avenue to Ballymun Road and is about 50 acres. It owns another 35 acres at St Clare's on the west side of Ballymun Road which is used as the university's sports grounds.
Neil Callanan
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 27 October 2008
Relocation of Bellanaboy site in Corrib project not an option, Shell says
SHELL EP Ireland has welcomed confirmation by a US pipeline expert that there are no serious technical obstacles to ensuring the safety of the Corrib gas refinery project in north Mayo.
However, it has said that moving the Bellanaboy gas terminal is “not an option”.
Shell, lead developer in the Corrib gas project, was responding to comments this week by Richard Kuprewicz of Accufacts Inc, an independent investigator of pipeline accidents and author of a review of the controversial gas pipeline, published in late 2005.
Mr Kuprewicz’s assertion in relation to relocation “shows a lack of understanding of Irish planning processes and the statutory scrutiny which underpins every application for major infrastructure”, Shell said.
Mr Kuprewicz participated in an event held by the Afri justice and peace organisation in Erris, Co Mayo, at the weekend.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr Kuprewicz said he was “saddened” to see there had been no resolution of the Corrib gas controversy. He said the only obstacle was “trust” and Shell EP Ireland’s willingness to spend money on safe design of existing plans – or relocation of the gas refinery to a coastal site.
“It is not hard to move a gas plant – this is not an oil refinery. The only cost is money, which Shell is not short of,” he said.
His risk analysis on the Corrib gas onshore pipeline, commissioned by the former Centre for Public Inquiry and published in late 2005, noted that there was no fail-safe design for such a high-pressure pipeline.
It said the quantified risk assessment conducted was inappropriate for a “highly unique” high-pressure pipeline, which was “the first of its kind” on this island.
It recommended minimum safe distance from housing was 200-400m. Mr Kuprewicz’s analysis was described at the time as “highly speculative” by Shell, but was referred by the Government’s high-level advisory group on the project to its own consultants, Advantica. The Advantica report agreed with half of the points raised by Mr Kuprewicz, and recommended limiting pressure in the onshore section to 144 bar.
Mr Kuprewicz said he had seen plans to modify the pipeline route, but would like to see design details of Shell’s plan to limit pressure on the onshore section.
Shell has submitted an application for a modified onshore pipeline route to Bord Pleanála.
The appeals board requested additional information and is due to make a decision shortly on an oral hearing, which may be held before the end of the year.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
However, it has said that moving the Bellanaboy gas terminal is “not an option”.
Shell, lead developer in the Corrib gas project, was responding to comments this week by Richard Kuprewicz of Accufacts Inc, an independent investigator of pipeline accidents and author of a review of the controversial gas pipeline, published in late 2005.
Mr Kuprewicz’s assertion in relation to relocation “shows a lack of understanding of Irish planning processes and the statutory scrutiny which underpins every application for major infrastructure”, Shell said.
Mr Kuprewicz participated in an event held by the Afri justice and peace organisation in Erris, Co Mayo, at the weekend.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr Kuprewicz said he was “saddened” to see there had been no resolution of the Corrib gas controversy. He said the only obstacle was “trust” and Shell EP Ireland’s willingness to spend money on safe design of existing plans – or relocation of the gas refinery to a coastal site.
“It is not hard to move a gas plant – this is not an oil refinery. The only cost is money, which Shell is not short of,” he said.
His risk analysis on the Corrib gas onshore pipeline, commissioned by the former Centre for Public Inquiry and published in late 2005, noted that there was no fail-safe design for such a high-pressure pipeline.
It said the quantified risk assessment conducted was inappropriate for a “highly unique” high-pressure pipeline, which was “the first of its kind” on this island.
It recommended minimum safe distance from housing was 200-400m. Mr Kuprewicz’s analysis was described at the time as “highly speculative” by Shell, but was referred by the Government’s high-level advisory group on the project to its own consultants, Advantica. The Advantica report agreed with half of the points raised by Mr Kuprewicz, and recommended limiting pressure in the onshore section to 144 bar.
Mr Kuprewicz said he had seen plans to modify the pipeline route, but would like to see design details of Shell’s plan to limit pressure on the onshore section.
Shell has submitted an application for a modified onshore pipeline route to Bord Pleanála.
The appeals board requested additional information and is due to make a decision shortly on an oral hearing, which may be held before the end of the year.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Dublin firm wins global architecture award
DUBLIN-BASED Grafton Architects, run by Shelley McNamara and Yvonne Farrell, have scooped the first World Building of the Year award at the inaugural World Festival of Architecture for their new faculty building at Bocconi University in Milan.
The awards are the biggest and most wide-ranging architectural awards programme in the world, designed to "celebrate the work, concerns and aspirations of the international architectural community" according to its director, Paul Finch.
At a time when many architectural practices in Ireland - including Grafton - have been laying off staff due to the downturn in the building industry, the news from the festival in Barcelona was particularly welcome.
A total of 224 buildings in 17 categories from 43 countries made it on to the shortlist. Grafton had already won the premier award in the "learning" category for their mammoth Milan project and then went on to win the overall award.
They beat such luminaries as Foster + Partners, who won the "new and old" award for the Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, and Zaha Hadid, whose Norpark Cable Railway in Austria won the transport award.
Other finalists included a women's health centre in Burkina Faso by Italian architects FAREstudio, a sheep stable in the Netherlands by 70F Architecture, and BMW Welt, a multi-functional "customer experience and exhibition centre" in Munich by Coop Himmelb(l)au.
The jury - chaired by Robert Stern, dean of Yale School of Architecture - included Cecil Balmond, of Ove Arup Partners; Ricky Burdett, professor of architecture at London School of Economics, critic Charles Jencks, and Suha Ozkan, of the XXI Architecture Centre in Ankara.
In a unanimous decision, the jury gave the World Building of the Year award to Grafton Architects, saying they had succeeded in "distilling the essence of the city" of Milan into a confident, contemporary form with a "magical subterranean realm".
Bocconi University's faculty building, which will be officially opened on Friday, includes offices for 1,000 teaching staff suspended above subterranean conference halls and lecture theatres, courtyards and concourses, all accessible to the public.
Mr Finch, who is editor of the London-based Architectural Review, said Grafton had "opened up the past of the city with a 21st century attitude" with a building that had "the capacity to make a profound difference to the lives of its users".
With allusions to Modernist megastructures, Prof Stern said "it's one of those great buildings that allows you to see a moment of the past in a totally fresh way", while Mr Balmond commented that its "3-D design" was "effortless, with no histrionics".
Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara were delighted to win such an accolade for their biggest-ever project.
"We were trying to make the university a miniature city where public realm connects with the rest of the city and the campus provides a window to Milan," they said in a joint statement.
Sean Ó Laoire, president of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, said it was an "amazing and well-deserved recognition" and a "reminder to the Government that the quality of architecture and quality of education are intimately linked".
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The awards are the biggest and most wide-ranging architectural awards programme in the world, designed to "celebrate the work, concerns and aspirations of the international architectural community" according to its director, Paul Finch.
At a time when many architectural practices in Ireland - including Grafton - have been laying off staff due to the downturn in the building industry, the news from the festival in Barcelona was particularly welcome.
A total of 224 buildings in 17 categories from 43 countries made it on to the shortlist. Grafton had already won the premier award in the "learning" category for their mammoth Milan project and then went on to win the overall award.
They beat such luminaries as Foster + Partners, who won the "new and old" award for the Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, and Zaha Hadid, whose Norpark Cable Railway in Austria won the transport award.
Other finalists included a women's health centre in Burkina Faso by Italian architects FAREstudio, a sheep stable in the Netherlands by 70F Architecture, and BMW Welt, a multi-functional "customer experience and exhibition centre" in Munich by Coop Himmelb(l)au.
The jury - chaired by Robert Stern, dean of Yale School of Architecture - included Cecil Balmond, of Ove Arup Partners; Ricky Burdett, professor of architecture at London School of Economics, critic Charles Jencks, and Suha Ozkan, of the XXI Architecture Centre in Ankara.
In a unanimous decision, the jury gave the World Building of the Year award to Grafton Architects, saying they had succeeded in "distilling the essence of the city" of Milan into a confident, contemporary form with a "magical subterranean realm".
Bocconi University's faculty building, which will be officially opened on Friday, includes offices for 1,000 teaching staff suspended above subterranean conference halls and lecture theatres, courtyards and concourses, all accessible to the public.
Mr Finch, who is editor of the London-based Architectural Review, said Grafton had "opened up the past of the city with a 21st century attitude" with a building that had "the capacity to make a profound difference to the lives of its users".
With allusions to Modernist megastructures, Prof Stern said "it's one of those great buildings that allows you to see a moment of the past in a totally fresh way", while Mr Balmond commented that its "3-D design" was "effortless, with no histrionics".
Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara were delighted to win such an accolade for their biggest-ever project.
"We were trying to make the university a miniature city where public realm connects with the rest of the city and the campus provides a window to Milan," they said in a joint statement.
Sean Ó Laoire, president of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, said it was an "amazing and well-deserved recognition" and a "reminder to the Government that the quality of architecture and quality of education are intimately linked".
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Dunne seeks to get rival's building flattened
DEVELOPER Sean Dunne is pursuing a High Court bid requiring rival developer Liam Carroll to pull down an €83m office block on Dublin's north quays which the courts have ruled is an unauthorised development.
Mr Dunne and his North Wall Property Holding Company are seeking an injunction following a court ruling earlier this month that the office block was not exempted development.
The High Court found the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) acted outside its powers in certifying in July 2007 that the development by Mr Carroll's company, North Quay Investments Ltd (NQI), did not require planning permission.
The DDDA, which may yet be faced with multi-million euro compensation claims from NQI, has yet to indicate if it is appealing the court's ruling.
The development at issue is intended as a new headquarters for Anglo-Irish Bank and is part of a larger €200m development by NQI on the former Brooks Thomas site at North Wall Quay.
The injunction application will be resisted by NQI, counsel for NQI told the court yesterday when the case was mentioned before Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan. Garrett Simons, counsel for Mr Dunne, said the NQI development was an unauthorised structure and should be removed.
Michael Collins, for NQI, said the court should not make final orders based on the successful proceedings by Mr Dunne against the DDDA.
The court, Mr Collins said, should first determine NQI's claim that a certificate of exemption granted by the DDDA for the NQI development should be treated as "voidable" rather than "void".
Exempt
If the certificate was treated as voidable, the building constructed to date would have the benefit of being considered exempt development, counsel argued.
The certificate of exempt development was valid on its face when it was granted and should not be retrospectively quashed as €83m had been spent on the building, counsel said.
Ms Justice Finlay Geoghegan remarked there must be the possibility of seeking retention permission for the development. Mr Collins said his side would do that if nothing else could be done. The case was adjourned until next month.
Tim Healy
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Mr Dunne and his North Wall Property Holding Company are seeking an injunction following a court ruling earlier this month that the office block was not exempted development.
The High Court found the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) acted outside its powers in certifying in July 2007 that the development by Mr Carroll's company, North Quay Investments Ltd (NQI), did not require planning permission.
The DDDA, which may yet be faced with multi-million euro compensation claims from NQI, has yet to indicate if it is appealing the court's ruling.
The development at issue is intended as a new headquarters for Anglo-Irish Bank and is part of a larger €200m development by NQI on the former Brooks Thomas site at North Wall Quay.
The injunction application will be resisted by NQI, counsel for NQI told the court yesterday when the case was mentioned before Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan. Garrett Simons, counsel for Mr Dunne, said the NQI development was an unauthorised structure and should be removed.
Michael Collins, for NQI, said the court should not make final orders based on the successful proceedings by Mr Dunne against the DDDA.
The court, Mr Collins said, should first determine NQI's claim that a certificate of exemption granted by the DDDA for the NQI development should be treated as "voidable" rather than "void".
Exempt
If the certificate was treated as voidable, the building constructed to date would have the benefit of being considered exempt development, counsel argued.
The certificate of exempt development was valid on its face when it was granted and should not be retrospectively quashed as €83m had been spent on the building, counsel said.
Ms Justice Finlay Geoghegan remarked there must be the possibility of seeking retention permission for the development. Mr Collins said his side would do that if nothing else could be done. The case was adjourned until next month.
Tim Healy
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Docklands authority will accept north quays ruling
THE DUBLIN Docklands Development Authority has told the Commercial Court it is not appealing against a court decision that it acted outside its powers in granting "fast-track" permission for a €200 million development on Dublin's north quays.
There is speculation that the decision not to appeal against Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan's judgment earlier this month means it may yet be exposed to multimillion-euro compensation claims from developers.
The judgment could also affect the dockland authority's plans to create a high-rise quarter jutting out into the Liffey along North Wall Quay, east of Spencer Dock.
This scheme would have been facilitated by North Quay Investments Ltd ceding land, free of charge.
Ms Justice Finlay Geoghegan on October 3rd upheld developer Seán Dunne's challenge to the granting of permission for a rival development by North Quay Investments Ltd, owned by Liam Carroll, on the former Brooks Thomas site at North Wall Quay.
The judgment has implications for a separate challenge by the Spencer Dock Development Company related to the same north quays development.
The judge ruled there was "a direct relationship" between the docklands authority decision to grant approval for the North Quay development under section 25 of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority Act 1997 and the company giving part of the site to the authority for public space.
The nature of a confidential agreement reached in May 2007 between the docklands authority and Mr Carroll's company before the exemption was issued in July 2007 gave rise to a "reasonable apprehension of bias" by Dublin Docklands in reaching its decision, she ruled.
When the Spencer Dock proceedings were mentioned at the Commercial Court yesterday, Ms Emily Egan, for the docklands authority, told Mr Justice Peter Kelly there would be no appeal against the decision upholding Seán Dunne's challenge.
Discovery applications in the Spencer Dock proceedings were adjourned to next month.
In its action, the Spencer Dock Development Company has claimed there was a "covert contract" between the docklands authority and North Quay Investments relating to the development on the north quays which had created an uneven playing pitch among developers in the docklands.
The Spencer Dock company which controls extensive development lands over 29 acres claims the docklands authority "seriously compromised itself" in relation to alleged commitments to North Quay Investments under the agreement and had given North Quay "a considerable commercial advantage".
The docklands authority may be liable for millions in losses to Spencer Dock Development Company as a result of the agreement as North Quay Investments had effectively secured a "re-writing of the planning scheme" to ensure "the maximum benefit" for the lands owned by it, Spencer Dock claims.
Meanwhile, Mr Dunne and his North Wall Property Holding Company are pursuing their application for a High Court injunction requiring North Quay to "remove" an €83 million office block development constructed as part of the overall North Quay development following the High Court ruling.
They say they are entitled to the order following the High Court's decision that the docklands authority acted outside its powers.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
There is speculation that the decision not to appeal against Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan's judgment earlier this month means it may yet be exposed to multimillion-euro compensation claims from developers.
The judgment could also affect the dockland authority's plans to create a high-rise quarter jutting out into the Liffey along North Wall Quay, east of Spencer Dock.
This scheme would have been facilitated by North Quay Investments Ltd ceding land, free of charge.
Ms Justice Finlay Geoghegan on October 3rd upheld developer Seán Dunne's challenge to the granting of permission for a rival development by North Quay Investments Ltd, owned by Liam Carroll, on the former Brooks Thomas site at North Wall Quay.
The judgment has implications for a separate challenge by the Spencer Dock Development Company related to the same north quays development.
The judge ruled there was "a direct relationship" between the docklands authority decision to grant approval for the North Quay development under section 25 of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority Act 1997 and the company giving part of the site to the authority for public space.
The nature of a confidential agreement reached in May 2007 between the docklands authority and Mr Carroll's company before the exemption was issued in July 2007 gave rise to a "reasonable apprehension of bias" by Dublin Docklands in reaching its decision, she ruled.
When the Spencer Dock proceedings were mentioned at the Commercial Court yesterday, Ms Emily Egan, for the docklands authority, told Mr Justice Peter Kelly there would be no appeal against the decision upholding Seán Dunne's challenge.
Discovery applications in the Spencer Dock proceedings were adjourned to next month.
In its action, the Spencer Dock Development Company has claimed there was a "covert contract" between the docklands authority and North Quay Investments relating to the development on the north quays which had created an uneven playing pitch among developers in the docklands.
The Spencer Dock company which controls extensive development lands over 29 acres claims the docklands authority "seriously compromised itself" in relation to alleged commitments to North Quay Investments under the agreement and had given North Quay "a considerable commercial advantage".
The docklands authority may be liable for millions in losses to Spencer Dock Development Company as a result of the agreement as North Quay Investments had effectively secured a "re-writing of the planning scheme" to ensure "the maximum benefit" for the lands owned by it, Spencer Dock claims.
Meanwhile, Mr Dunne and his North Wall Property Holding Company are pursuing their application for a High Court injunction requiring North Quay to "remove" an €83 million office block development constructed as part of the overall North Quay development following the High Court ruling.
They say they are entitled to the order following the High Court's decision that the docklands authority acted outside its powers.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Legal move to make developer pay €7.5m adjourned
A LEGAL action to compel developer Bernard McNamara to pay €7.5 million to three businessmen, a tax consultant and a banker for their shareholdings in a property company has been adjourned at the Commercial Court after indications the matter may be resolved.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday agreed to adjourn proceedings after being told by Michael Cush SC, for the plaintiffs, that the matter may not trouble the court. The case was adjourned to December 8th next.
The proceedings relate to Novorstan Ltd, with offices at Clanwilliam Court, Dublin 2. Its shareholders are Mr McNamara, Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4; Gary Smith, Hazelhatch, Newcastle, Co Dublin; Ivor Dougan, Booterstown, Co Dublin; Paschal Taggart, Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin; Terry Cooney, a tax consultant, of Fitz-william Square, Dublin; and Shane Taggart, a banker, with an address at Brompton Road, London.
The shareholders came together in 2004 to acquire properties within a site adjacent to Grafton Street, Dublin, in order to carry out a major commercial development on the site.
Mr McNamara is now being sued by the other five arising from an option deed of September 2004 under which the plaintiffs claim they granted Mr McNamara the option to require them to sell shares in Novorstan and other specified companies for a price in accordance with the deed.
They claim the minimum amount due to them is €7.5 million and Mr McNamara has no bona fide defence to their claim for that amount. They claim Mr McNamara in September 2006 exercised his option requiring them to sell their shares, but they expressed dissatisfaction with a valuation on the properties and an independent valuation was secured between the sides.
They claim they notified Mr McNamara in August 2008 that they were accepting €7.5 million as the option price for the purpose of the option deed. Mr McNamara's solicitors replied that the plaintiffs could not unilaterally vary procedures set down in the option deeds. The plaintiffs' solicitors responded that if the shares were not purchased by September 26th last, proceedings would be served on Mr McNamara.
It is claimed some €3.17 million is due to Mr Smith and also to Mr Dougan, and €385,000 to Paschal Taggart, while Mr Cooney and Shane Taggart each claim to be owed €384,750.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday agreed to adjourn proceedings after being told by Michael Cush SC, for the plaintiffs, that the matter may not trouble the court. The case was adjourned to December 8th next.
The proceedings relate to Novorstan Ltd, with offices at Clanwilliam Court, Dublin 2. Its shareholders are Mr McNamara, Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4; Gary Smith, Hazelhatch, Newcastle, Co Dublin; Ivor Dougan, Booterstown, Co Dublin; Paschal Taggart, Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin; Terry Cooney, a tax consultant, of Fitz-william Square, Dublin; and Shane Taggart, a banker, with an address at Brompton Road, London.
The shareholders came together in 2004 to acquire properties within a site adjacent to Grafton Street, Dublin, in order to carry out a major commercial development on the site.
Mr McNamara is now being sued by the other five arising from an option deed of September 2004 under which the plaintiffs claim they granted Mr McNamara the option to require them to sell shares in Novorstan and other specified companies for a price in accordance with the deed.
They claim the minimum amount due to them is €7.5 million and Mr McNamara has no bona fide defence to their claim for that amount. They claim Mr McNamara in September 2006 exercised his option requiring them to sell their shares, but they expressed dissatisfaction with a valuation on the properties and an independent valuation was secured between the sides.
They claim they notified Mr McNamara in August 2008 that they were accepting €7.5 million as the option price for the purpose of the option deed. Mr McNamara's solicitors replied that the plaintiffs could not unilaterally vary procedures set down in the option deeds. The plaintiffs' solicitors responded that if the shares were not purchased by September 26th last, proceedings would be served on Mr McNamara.
It is claimed some €3.17 million is due to Mr Smith and also to Mr Dougan, and €385,000 to Paschal Taggart, while Mr Cooney and Shane Taggart each claim to be owed €384,750.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Putting Dublin Mountains on the map
DUBLIN BUS is being urged to organise its services to allow greater access to the Dublin Mountains as part of a new initiative to improve the recreation potential of public lands there.
Minister for Natural Resources Eamon Ryan said he would be asking the company to explore the issue as part of the Dublin Mountains Partnership, which he officially launched in Tibradden Woods yesterday.
The Dublin Mountains Partnership involves Coillte, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the Dublin Mountains Initiative, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and South County Dublin County Council.
One of its first initiatives, the Minister said, was to establish a walking trail from Tallaght to Dún Laoghaire over the mountains. This trail was under construction, he said.
"I would like to see public transport linking into this so people could have more access to the mountains which are one of the greatest treasures of our city," he added.
"It would be wonderful to be able to get a bus into the mountains at Tallaght and be able to get one back from Dún Laoghaire at the end of a good day's walking."
The Minister said no other capital city he had ever lived in had a wonderful bay on one side and yet, within 30 minutes, one could be in the mountains.
Under a 10-year action plan, the partnership will develop access routes, new trails, signage, a website and a recreational user's maps of the area.
The partnership will also be bringing forward a recruitment campaign to develop a volunteer ranger scheme to support the work of the partnership and to have an "on the ground" presence especially at the weekends.
A recreation manager has also been appointed by the partnership which will be supporting a "leave no trace" programme to promote responsible behaviour by visitors.
More information is available at www.dublinmountains.ie
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Minister for Natural Resources Eamon Ryan said he would be asking the company to explore the issue as part of the Dublin Mountains Partnership, which he officially launched in Tibradden Woods yesterday.
The Dublin Mountains Partnership involves Coillte, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the Dublin Mountains Initiative, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and South County Dublin County Council.
One of its first initiatives, the Minister said, was to establish a walking trail from Tallaght to Dún Laoghaire over the mountains. This trail was under construction, he said.
"I would like to see public transport linking into this so people could have more access to the mountains which are one of the greatest treasures of our city," he added.
"It would be wonderful to be able to get a bus into the mountains at Tallaght and be able to get one back from Dún Laoghaire at the end of a good day's walking."
The Minister said no other capital city he had ever lived in had a wonderful bay on one side and yet, within 30 minutes, one could be in the mountains.
Under a 10-year action plan, the partnership will develop access routes, new trails, signage, a website and a recreational user's maps of the area.
The partnership will also be bringing forward a recruitment campaign to develop a volunteer ranger scheme to support the work of the partnership and to have an "on the ground" presence especially at the weekends.
A recreation manager has also been appointed by the partnership which will be supporting a "leave no trace" programme to promote responsible behaviour by visitors.
More information is available at www.dublinmountains.ie
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)